Harris MPP vs. Evans School MPA vs. Elliott School MA vs. NYU MPA

[hsmith2112]

Hey all!  I've been accepted to 6 programs but have narrowed it down to the following four:

• UChicago, Harris School (MPP)
• UW, Evans School (MPA)
• NYU Wagner (MPA, Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy)
• GWU, Elliott School (MA, International Science & Technology Policy)

I have received scholarship offers from the Harris School & the Elliott School.  My research interests involve energy decarbonization policy in developing countries.  Ultimately, my goal is to earn a PhD and pursue a career in research and/or policy analysis.  I've scoured the websites of all of these programs, so my goal here is to get some additional info to help me make my decision!

[GradSchoolGrad]

3 hours ago, hsmith2112 said:

Hey all!  I've been accepted to 6 programs but have narrowed it down to the following four:

• UChicago, Harris School (MPP)
• UW, Evans School (MPA)
• NYU Wagner (MPA, Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy)
• GWU, Elliott School (MA, International Science & Technology Policy)

I have received scholarship offers from the Harris School & the Elliott School.  My research interests involve energy decarbonization policy in developing countries.  Ultimately, my goal is to earn a PhD and pursue a career in research and/or policy analysis.  I've scoured the websites of all of these programs, so my goal here is to get some additional info to help me make my decision!

I think we need to pull back what it requires to attend an awesome PhD program (assuming related to policy). 
 

1. Grades. A- or higher GPA (and that is a bit of a stretch)

2. Letters of recommendation from stars in their field

3. Research output (alternatively, applied work, but unless it is something ridiculous, it matters less generally speaking).

That being said, I think it is important to not go to a place that risks hurting you one of these areas. What does that mean?

1. If you are NOT comfortable with calculus, your grades might struggle with Harris.

HOWEVER... assuming you don't mind math...

Harris is a no brainer. It is arguably the most intense quant MPP program + you would get to know major academic leaders in the field. Plus, there are lots of energy projects in the midwest that you can do research with and would be relevant for developing countries as well.

 

Edited March 27, 2020 by GradSchoolGrad